Adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the
lymph system. The lymph system is made up of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels, into all
parts of the body. Lymph vessels carry lymph, a colorless, watery fluid that contains white blood
cells called lymphocytes. Along the network of vessels are groups of small organs called lymph
nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarm, pelvis, neck, and abdomen. The
lymph nodes make and store infection-fighting cells. The spleen (an organ in the upper abdomen
that makes lymphocytes and filters old blood cells from the blood), the thymus (a small organ
beneath the breastbone), and the tonsils (an organ in the throat) are also part of the lymph system.

Because lymph tissue is found in many parts of the body, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can start in
almost any part of the body. The cancer can spread to almost any organ or tissue in the body,
including the liver, bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the large bones of the body that makes
blood cells), spleen, and nose.

There are many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Some types spread more quickly than
others. The type is determined by how the cancer cells look under a microscope. This
determination is called the histology. The histologies for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are
divided into 2 groups: indolent lymphomas, which are slower growing and have fewer symptoms,
and aggressive lymphomas, which grow more quickly.

A doctor should be seen if any of the following symptoms persist: painless swelling in the lymph
nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin; unexplained fever; drenching night sweats; tiredness;
unexplained weight loss in the past 6 months; or itchy skin.

If these symptoms are present, a doctor will carefully check for swelling or lumps in the neck,
underarms, and groin. If the lymph nodes don't feel normal, a doctor may need to surgically
remove a small piece of tissue and look at it under a microscope to see if there are any cancer
cells. This procedure is called a biopsy.

The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend on the stage of the cancer
(whether it is just in one area or has spread throughout the body), and the patient's age and
overall condition.

Description

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) usually affects older adults and, therefore, women are seldom
found to have NHL when they are pregnant. Most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are aggressive and
delaying treatment until after the baby has been delivered appears to lead to a poor outcome.
Immediate treatment is often recommended, even during pregnancy. Children who were exposed
to doxorubicin (a chemotherapy drug) before they were born have been monitored for up to 11
years, and they do not appear to suffer from side effects of the drug. Long- term studies have not
been conducted to determine the effects of other chemotherapy drugs on children who were
exposed to them before birth. Ending the pregnancy during the first trimester of pregnancy may
also be an option for women who have aggressive NHL that must be treated immediately. Early
delivery may reduce or avoid the fetus' exposure to chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy.
Women who have indolent (slow-growing) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can usually delay treatment.

To Learn More

Call

For more information, U.S. residents may call the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer
Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through Friday
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers with TTY equipment may call
1-800-332-8615. The call is free and a trained Cancer Information Specialist is available to
answer your questions.

Web sites and Organizations

The NCI's Cancer.gov Web site provides online access to information on cancer, clinical trials,
and other Web sites and organizations that offer support and resources for cancer patients and
their families. There are also many other places where people can get materials and information
about cancer treatment and services. Local hospitals may have information on local and regional
agencies that offer information about finances, getting to and from treatment, receiving care at
home, and dealing with problems associated with cancer treatment.

Publications

The NCI has booklets and other materials for patients, health professionals, and the public. These
publications discuss types of cancer, methods of cancer treatment, coping with cancer, and
clinical trials. Some publications provide information on tests for cancer, cancer causes and
prevention, cancer statistics, and NCI research activities. NCI materials on these and other topics
may be ordered online or printed directly from the NCI Publications Locator. These materials
can also be ordered by telephone from the Cancer Information Service toll-free at
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), TTY at 1-800-332-8615.

LiveHelp

The NCI's LiveHelp service, a program available on several of the Institute's Web sites, provides
Internet users with the ability to chat online with an Information Specialist. The service is available
from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Information Specialists can
help Internet users find information on NCI Web sites and answer questions about cancer.